So you're finally ready to start that blog, huh? Congratulations! The start of a year is the perfect time to work on such an exciting project. There might be some skepticism on whether a blog is worth the commitment in 2021 - are they a thing of the past? NOPE. Blogs are consistently relevant and plenty of bloggers make a living off their sites.
If you're interested in starting a blog or need some refresher tips for your existing blog, you're in the right place!
I'm going to break this detailed post down into three sections: Pre-launch, Launch, and Post-Launch. I'll help you through every major step you need to take from brainstorming to creation to maintenance.
Everything mentioned below is 100% based on my experience as a blogger of 13+ years... yeah lol. Any LiveJournal/Xanga alumni here?
Disclaimer: This is a no-BS blogging 101 guide. We're getting you started here. Blogging requires several courses to cover everything but this is a solid starting place.
[Click here to see my companion YouTube video on How to Start a Blog in 2021!]
Now if you're anything like me, the endless options of themes! Colors! Fonts! Can be exciting but also overwhelming. Come into this section with an idea already in mind.
Disclaimer: You do not need to know code! You can purchase a template (depending on the platform). Purchased templates always provide a thorough guide on how to install them. I know this is another cost, but I paid $20 for my theme, I supported a small business, and it's gorgeous... it'll last me several years.
There is not ONE person in this world who started with a perfect blog. No one. Fight me on it. Mistakes will happen and that is okay. Mistakes need to happen, really.
This entire blog post comes from 13+ years of mistakes. You need to make the mistakes in order to learn from them. Take note and move forward. The fear of being perfect will stop you from getting started and there's nothing more detrimental to a blog's success than not starting it at all.
If you're interested in starting a blog or need some refresher tips for your existing blog, you're in the right place!
I'm going to break this detailed post down into three sections: Pre-launch, Launch, and Post-Launch. I'll help you through every major step you need to take from brainstorming to creation to maintenance.
Everything mentioned below is 100% based on my experience as a blogger of 13+ years... yeah lol. Any LiveJournal/Xanga alumni here?
Disclaimer: This is a no-BS blogging 101 guide. We're getting you started here. Blogging requires several courses to cover everything but this is a solid starting place.
[Click here to see my companion YouTube video on How to Start a Blog in 2021!]
PART I: PRE-LAUNCH
Identify your "why"
What does it mean to identify your "why"? First, ask yourself this simple question: Why am I creating this blog? Write your answer down. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! It's critical to ground your "why" because it brings purpose to your blog. A blog with no purpose is not a blog worth venturing.
Your "why" will also help with future maintenance. Every blogger falls into a rut of not knowing what else to write about. Coming back to your "why" during those times will remind you of your purpose.
Example of a "why": I am creating a blog to inspire my audience with my passion and knowledge of home decor.
Identify your niche
After your "why" comes your niche. Niche is defined as "a specialized segment of the market for a particular kind of product or service". In terms of what we're talking about here, it's a very specific breakdown of your "why". Ask yourself these simple questions: What do I want to provide to my audience? What am I trying to achieve? What results do I want? Again, jot down your answers and do not skip. Your niche will be the quintessential guideline for all posts you create.
Tip: If you're having trouble identifying your niche, start with a general topic (i.e. lifestyle, food, fashion) and breakdown what specific subtopics you're most interested in the given topic.
Example of a niche: Sustainable, ethical, vegan-friendly home decor recommendations. (See the progression of "why" to "niche"?)
Build your social media presence
You need to let people know you have a blog, right? This is where social media platforms come in handy for self-promotion. In order to do this you need to build an audience on another platform. You can use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter... anywhere you like! You can use one platform or many. Of course, the more platforms you use the more visibility you'll gain. But don't stretch yourself out, that's unrealistic to maintain.
Your social media audience should be built well before launching your blog. So if you haven't started yet, do that now and come back to this post in a few months when your audience has grown a bit. If you need specific tips on specific platforms, let me know in the comments!
PART II: LAUNCH
Select your platform
It's time to create your blog! To start, you need to select a platform to sign up on. I personally use Blogger, but here's a list of the best platforms:
WordPress.org (the overall best platform)
Wix (very user-friendly)
Blogger (my personal choice)
Squarespace (gorgeous design options)
WordPress.com (completely free version)
Tumblr (the social-media blog)
Decide whether you'll self-host (you should)
You should. It's a must if you plan to be a serious blogger.This part is where you will need to make investments but it will pay off if you're serious about the work! What will you pay for?
1) a domain (i.e. piesnprose.com instead of piesnprose.blogger.com)
2) a subscription to a hosting service
Domain prices vary, but I personally pay $100 a year for my domain. That's $0.27 a day if you think about it!
Hosting services get a little pricier. But what's a hosting service? It's essentially the "home hub" of your blog. It holds your posts, files, everything. It also provides tools to organize and control your blog efficiently. Customer support is included. So you're paying for a service that will work like a powerhouse for your blog.
Here's a list of the best hosting services:
Bluehost ($)
HostGator ($)
GoDaddy ($$)
Dream Host ($)
Green Geeks ($)
Design!
My personal favorite!!! I love designing a fresh new blog. I could go on and on about it. And I've made plenty of mistakes over the years.
You've probably noticed that successful blogs are consistent and clean and laid out in a purposeful way. Take a look at your favorite blog, for example. See what grabs the eye as soon as you land on the page. Everything you see is purposeful and inviting.
Prepare: color palettes, fonts, layout, headers, branding, logos etc.
Disclaimer: You do not need to know code! You can purchase a template (depending on the platform). Purchased templates always provide a thorough guide on how to install them. I know this is another cost, but I paid $20 for my theme, I supported a small business, and it's gorgeous... it'll last me several years.
PART III: POST-LAUNCH
Do. Not. Forget. Your. Voice.
Your voice? We love it. We're here for it. And honestly, people won't stick around to read a generic, boring blog post. In 2021, competition is intense as blogging has been around for a long time. Make sure your voice and personality ring throughout your work.NO, you don't need to have a peppy, full of joy, blissful personality. But your authenticity is what will connect with people. Seriously. Ya'll know you love Daria.
Making mistakes? You're doing it right.
This entire blog post comes from 13+ years of mistakes. You need to make the mistakes in order to learn from them. Take note and move forward. The fear of being perfect will stop you from getting started and there's nothing more detrimental to a blog's success than not starting it at all.
Take my word for it. I started Pies n' Prose in 2017 and only started making real money from it in 2020. Some of my posts still have less than 100 views. I'm not perfect but it's not stopping me.
You're ready.
It's time to get going! You're about to become an official blogger, yay! I'm so excited for you. Feel free to leave your thoughts, blog links, or your own personal experience in the comments. Wishing you the best of luck. Don't forget to watch my companion YouTube video on How to Start a Blog in 2021 for a full experience.
Regardless of how ridiculous 2020 was, the year in photos must happen! But here's my problem. I lost a lot of photos when I got a new phone in the fall. I have no idea what happened! Somehow, photos from 2017 are available... but not all from this year lol. Maybe it's a sign? Either way, I'm making it work.
This "Year in Photos" will feature twelve photos from 2020 and a monthly reflective note. With that, let's get started!
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| January: One great change + one horrible circumstance. I started 2020 by going vegan! But I was also dealing with a serious injury. [pictured: Logan posing by my windowsill plants] |
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| February: We made our first HUGE purchase - a new car! Little did we know that driving would lessen a lot this year... [pictured: late night cuddles with Logan] |
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| March: Lockdown in NYC officially began... right after I spent hours on a line (masked) waiting to get a tattoo! [pictured: my flourishing indoor Gardyn] |
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| April: A full month of transitioning into remote work + being at home with Ian all day, every day! We enjoyed it, was grateful to have him home. [pictured: me sitting by the infamous Getaway House window] |
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| May: Starting to get used to remote work. Realizing that this new reality may be a reality for a while. [pictured: another shot of the infamous Getaway House cabin] |
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| June: A traumatic, heavy, exhausting experience in America. Feeling hope, anger, and fear all at the same time. [pictured: sitting by the fire and reading during our Getaway House trip] |
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| July: A blur of a month... what even happened? I think I was working on my Vegan Health Coach certification? And a lot of Animal Crossing. [pictured: My 2020 Jack o' Lantern] |
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| August: Starting to become comfortable with showing my face online (despite doing so months beforehand lol). [pictured: my new iMac!] |
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| September: My birthday + (positive) turn of emotions for the fall season. [pictured: posing with my pumpkin at the pumpkin patch we visit every year as a tradition!] |
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| October: My favorite month of the year. Halloween was so different - no decorations, no trick or treaters, no festivities. We even drove around to check! [pictured: me at the start of 2020 with newly gray hair] |
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| November: Our first-holiday meal as vegans! Made a pumpkin pie that Ian adored. The family dinner was extremely small and lowkey. [pictured: my vegan pumpkin pie!] |
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| December: Saying a lot of goodbyes to 2020 (and good riddances!). Holidays were lowkey but still enjoyable. I'm just glad I was able to rest for a bit. [pictured: the best chocolate chip cookies made by yours truly] |
Like I've said many times this month, BYE 2020! I'm ready for positive changes in 2021. I'd like to point out that 2021 won't be a light switch for the pandemic - we will be dealing with a lot of the same going into the new year. But I have hope that we'll be better prepared this time around. And I want us all to manifest positive goals for our future. I'm wishing the best for us. See you there!
We're back with another annual gift guide! You know what needs a change, though? My unhealthy obsession with reading gift guides JUST TO READ THEM. Especially when most feature the same products over and over again (ahem, Buzzfeed).
I always keep it real with you and my gift guides are no different. Below, you'll find unique items I discovered and truly loved over the year. I find each product worthy of a gift for the special friends and family in your life.
I hope you like my carefully curated list! Let's have some fun.
Note: Some products are sponsored and the brands have given me coupon codes to share. Others have affiliate or referral codes for more discounts. Happy saving!
Gardyn
I have thirty flourishing plants (lettuces, herbs, peppers, etc.) growing in my living room! All with the ease of this (beautiful, decor-worthy) indoor gardening system. The hype on these is real. You can have useable produce in as short as a month. From the 30-minute installation, to the companion mobile app equipped with a virtual assistant, to the ridiculously easy upkeep, this system will literally change someone's life.
Perfect for: The intermediate sustainability, eco-friendly, desperate-for-a-green-thumb person in your life.
Sponsored, use code Piesn'Prose for $100 off your first order!
Buy here.
Aerogarden
If the Gardyn is not in your budget, here's your next best thing. I, a former plant killer, have basil and tomatoes growing from this tabletop indoor gardening system for nearly a full year! An Aerogarden can run at a fraction of the price of a Gardyn, depending on the system size you select.
Perfect for: The beginner sustainability, eco-friendly, desperate-for-a-green-thumb person in your life.
Buy here.
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| photo by digitaltrends |
Nintendo Switch Lite
Now I know the Switch is going to be on every gift guide, but here's why I'm recommending the Lite. I use my Nintendo Switch daily. And I never dock it to the big screen or share a tiny remote control for two-player mode. If that's critical for you, go with the standard Switch. But if you're like me, and many others, the Lite is perfect for everyday use at $100 less. Plus the Lite has pretty colors lol.
Perfect for: The gamer or seeker of fun distractions.
Buy here.
Yabano Espresso Machine
I don't have a formal review for this (yet), but I'm adding it to the list so here's a tl;dr for ya. I use this espresso machine every single day and it has not disappointed despite not being a fancy brand name machine. It is easy to use, there's a built-in frother, and most importantly, the espresso is delicious.
Perfect for: The coffee enthusiast.
Buy here.
Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Optical Mouse
Talk about a functional gift. A lot of us are working from home in conditions that might not be ideal. And we're working a lot harder these days. This mouse is the perfect solution for hand fatigue. I personally have tendonitis, so I'd have to stop at least 5 times a day to give my inflamed hands a break. With this mouse? Inflammation no longer!
Perfect for: The content creator, the office worker, the carpal tunnel victim.
Buy here.
Sudio Tolv Wireless Headphones
Wireless headphones are essential in 2020 - who doesn't need a pair? The popular ones can get really expensive... and the cheaper ones lack in quality. Firstly, Sudio headphones are gorgeous! Sleek, minimalist, and aesthetic. They don't skimp on quality, either. The functionality is much like high-end popular options. It has its own charging case, too! All at a cheaper price.
Perfect for: The podcast and Spotify binger.
Disclaimer, formerly sponsored.
Buy here.
Vegamour Advanced Hair Serum
I've said enough in my full review - this serum is seriously good stuff. Vegamour offers bundles, too! Which makes it a fantastic starter kit gift for someone who has been eyeing the product for a while.
Perfect for: The beauty and skincare connoisseur.
Buy here. Click here for $10 off your first order (referral, not sponsored).
kencko
There's at least one person you know preparing to get back on track with their health after the holidays. Because kencko is branded and packaged as a set, it's another perfect starter kit! Everything about these instant smoothies is beautiful so it'll be a nice gift to unwrap. You can read my thorough review of it here.
Perfect for: The health conscious, the New Years goal enthusiast.
Sponsored, click here to buy 2 months get 20% off.
Buy here.
Getaway House Gift Cards
Ya'll know I live for Getaway! I go at least once a year and have been for several years. I cannot recommend this experience enough, especially now where traveling is tough and being socially distant can be tougher. A tiny cabin in the woods trip is a vacation anyone can still do safely.
Perfect for: The traveler, the nature seeker, the one in need of peace.
Buy here.
Pizza Stone
Your foodie fanatic needs this! I, the food lover in my friend group, love my pizza stone. It literally changes homemade pizza from good to perfect. Seriously. NYC pizza expert approved. The stone cleans easily, it's easy to use, and I am aware most foodies won't buy it themselves, so do them a favor.
Perfect for: Foodies, those tired of eating soggy takeout pizza.
Buy here.
Yeti Mug
Confession: I used to be a mug collector. It was a problem. This was the last portable mug I ever purchased cause it's so perfect and I finally don't need another. It keeps beverages hot for a long time, which was a constant problem for my slow-sippin' self. It's well-built and gorgeous, too. I have a white mug, but there are a lot of color options. I think anyone would appreciate receiving a Yeti product.
Perfect for: Slow beverage drinkers, coffee on-the-go humans.
Buy here.
Bamboo Utensil Set
Takeout might be more popular than ever. But the handful of unnecessary plastic utensils is not a good move for the planet. A bamboo utensil set would be a great gift for anyone, honestly. The set comes with a fork, spoon, knife, straw, straw cleaner, even chopsticks! It's all conveniently placed in a canvas case so you can pack it all up and throw in your bag for whatever occasion.
Perfect for: Takeout binger, picnic enthusiasts, travelers.
Buy here.
I put a lot of thought into the above gifts and I hope you find one (or more!) to be worthy of a gift for your loved ones. I don't want to end this post without acknowledging that we should be shopping small and local, too. It's the most important year to do so! So if you're in need of stocking stuffers or extremely unique, special items, here are some shops to consider:
SHOP SMALL THIS HOLIDAY
Forest Noir - dark, gothic, high-quality photography products (such as prints, bookmarks, notebooks, etc.)
Lo Art Co - literary inspired soy candles
Little Spooky Studio - adorably spooky art prints, pins, cards, etc.
The Vintage Cottage - thrifted home goods and decor
Lockwood Shop - curated home goods, quirky gifts, and fun items
Magic of I - sustainable and purely magical stationary items with a witchy theme
Kainku Handmade - handmade and high-quality (my personal favorite) face masks
Marked by Mary - handmade woodburned bookmarks
Happy holidays, friends!
This one comes as a bit of a surprise hasn't it! Halfway into lockdown/quarantine, like many others, I started to notice how little fruits and veggies I was consuming. That, along with moving my body less, gave me the desire to look into nutrient intake. Sure, I could simply add more plants into meals. But here are my problems:
1. I don't eat much (lol what a problem to have) so it's hard to munch all day like a rabbit.
2. It can get costly to find *all* the right produce.
3. Preparation and cooking can be time-consuming.
Cue in kencko. The potentially easy and aesthetic way to consume nutritionally dense plants. What's not to love? But is it really worth it? Time to keep it real, as I do.
what is kencko?
kencko (no caps are intentional) is a subscription service for flash-frozen and dried plants that can easily mix into a liquid for nutritional consumption. They're essentially smoothie packets! kencko's goal is to help people with their daily recommended fruit and vegetable intake in a convenient, efficient way.
The brand relies heavily on nutritional research and facts - they even have dieticians on call for you to consult with! There are multiple pages on their website dedicated to research. I am a huge fan of this, especially the dietitian part!
details.
There's a lot to cover here. Let's start with the product itself.
The smoothie packets are curated based on benefits and color. Hence, easy and aesthetic. The benefits range from skin health, recovery, balance, etc. The colors are aesthetic like corals, scarlets, and golds.
Each packet has a story. By that, I mean the packets have a breakdown of the nutritional value per ingredient and how that correlates to its overall benefit. There are instructions plus variations you can experiment with... ON THE PACKET. There's no booklet. It's all on the packet itself. Talk about convenience.
Oh, and on the note of convenience - each order comes with a free bottle to mix your smoothies in. A very cute bottle, I must say. The powder dissolves quite easily in the liquid without the need for an emulsifier.
Oh, and on the note of the packets - they're compostable. No need to feel guilty about the single servings.
OH, and on the note of carbon footprint - all of kencko's production, packaging, and shipping are energy efficient and low-waste.
There are no added ingredients. 100% plants. Therefore, they are low calorie and not meant to replace a meal. Think of them as a beverage to go with your meal/snack.
Lastly, the packets have a shelf life of around 6 months.
subscription options.
You have to enter your zip code to see if kencko is available to you. If it is, great! The monthly options you have are:
7 smoothies ($5.99 per smoothie)
20 smoothies ($2.99 per smoothie)
60 smoothies ($2.49 per smoothie)
You can customize the exact "colors" you want (they detail the ingredients before you decide) OR you can let them choose the popular ones for you.
All options come with one free bottle, a dietician consultation, and free shipping.
There is no a la carte option, but you can delay or cancel your subscription at any time (and it's easy to do so).
buy 2 months get 20% off - this link can discount the smoothies down to as little as $1.99 per smoothie (sponsored but never biased).
Disclaimer: kencko sent me 20 smoothies with their recommended selection of colors.
pros.
They're extremely convenient - The powder dissolves easily, the system is grab-and-go, and the packets have instructions and information ON IT!!! The fruit and veggie intake, the recommended liquid use, the benefits, the ingredients... all on the packet. I am impressed with such simple but fantastic packaging.
Nutrient galore - You're literally unlocking access to dozens of fruits and vegetables and minerals and vitamins with these packets. You can't get that from a protein powder, a single bottle of supplements, or the same strawberry banana smoothie you keep ordering.
Effort and care - Everything about kencko is... pretty lol. I personally appreciate that because aesthetics are part of my daily life (being a big ol' creator and all). Not only do they put efforts into something as little as that, but they put a huge effort into sustainability, health, and overall great things for the planet and body.
Versatile - kencko powders are meant to be a simple smoothie. But it can be added to yogurts, ice creams, and so much more! Especially because they dissolve easily. Their website even provides recipe suggestions.
A+ dieticians and newsletters - Providing a registered dietician is monumental. In a world where diet has been skewed left and right, this is a major step in the right direction for a health brand. And the newsletters are emails I actually read because there's useful information (unlike most brands that use their newsletters for ads).
cons.
They're expensive - Their most popular (and most practical) option is priced at $3 a smoothie. Sure, that's cheaper than a smoothie from a juice bar. But not cheaper than a homemade smoothie with frozen fruit/veggies.
Slight unpractical options - Because kencko doesn't offer a la carte or a larger variety of options, it can be hard to choose. A jump from 7 to 20 to 60 smoothies leaves little for the in-betweeners. And I think most people are in-betweeners? You'd have to get creative with the options provided to make it work. Doable but kind of annoying.
They don't taste remarkable - You're not going back to these packets for the taste, let's put it that way. These are purely for supplemental use. Your liquid/yogurt/base is what's going to add flavor.
It only comes with one bottle - If you plan to share the packets, there's gonna be a fight for who gets the bottle.
so, is it worth it?
This ultimately depends on your lifestyle and financial situation. Do you lack time for meal prep? Are homemade smoothies just not working? Is the price per smoothie reasonable in your budget? If you answer yes to all these questions, kencko is a fantastic option.
And let's not forget the most valuable (in my opinion) thing here: the easy access to dozens of fruits, veggies, vitamins, etc. Think of this as your jug of greens powder... x15... minus the price of buying 15 jugs and the stress of researching each jug. Plus a dietician consultant to help you along the way! Yeah, that's a big deal.
So, are you going to give kencko a try? Let me know in the comments! If you have any questions, feel free to send a message on my Instagram. And here's a link if you want to buy 2 months & get 20% off (sponsored!).
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